Armor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a ballistic armor and an armor system. According to embodiments, the armor includes an outer armor plate and an inner active layer. The outer armor plate is adapted to resist penetration by one or more penetrative elements. The inner active layer is adapted to laterally deflect penetrating elements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an armor unit and assembly construction that resists penetration by high energy solid projectiles and shockwaves designed to defeat armor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional armor is subjected to a variety of projectiles designed to defeat the armor by either penetrating the armor with a solid or molten object or by inducing shock waves in the armor that are reflected in a manner to cause spalling of the armor such that an opening is formed and the penetrator (usually stuck to a portion of the armor) passes through, or an inner layer of the armor spalls and is projected at high velocity without physical penetration of the armor.

Some anti-armor weapons are propelled to the outer surface of the armor where a shaped charge is exploded to form a generally linear “jet” of metal that will penetrate solid armor; these are often called Hollow Charge (HC) weapons. A second type of anti-armor weapon uses a linear, heavy metal penetrator projected at high velocity to penetrate the armor. This type of weapon is referred to as EFP (explosive formed projectile) or SFF (self forming fragment) or a “pie charge” or sometimes a “plate charge”.

In some of these weapons the warhead behaves as a hybrid of the HC and the EFP and produces a series of metal penetrators projected in line towards the target. Such a weapon will be referred to herein as a Hybrid warhead. Hybrid warheads behave according to how much “jetting” or HC effect it has and up to how much of a single big penetrator-like an EFP it produces.

Various protection systems are effective at defeating HC jets. Amongst different systems the best known are reactive armors that use explosives in the protection layers that detonate on being hit to break up most of the HC jet before it penetrates the target. The problem is that these explosive systems are poor at defeating EFP or Hybrid systems.

The penetration performance for the three mentioned types of warheads is normally described as the ability to penetrate a solid amount of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) steel armor. Performances typical for the weapon types are: HC warheads may penetrate 1 to 3 ft thickness of RHA, EFP warheads may penetrate 1 to 6 inches of RHA, and Hybrid warheads may penetrate 2 to 12 inches thick RHA. These estimates are based on the warheads weighing less than 15 lbs and fired at their best respective optimum stand off distances. The diameter of the holes made through the first inch of RHA would be; HC up to an inch diameter hole, EFP up to a 9 inch diameter hole, and Hybrids somewhere in between. The best respective optimum stand off distances for the different charges are: standoff distances for an HC charge is good under 3 feet but at 10 ft or more it is very poor; for an EFP charge a stand off distance up to 30 feet produces almost the same (good) penetration and will only fall off significantly at very large distances like 50 yards; and for Hybrid charges penetration is good at standoff distances up to 10 ft but after 20 feet penetration starts falling off significantly. The way these charges are used are determined by these stand off distances and the manner in which their effectiveness is optimized (e.g. the angles of the trajectory of the penetrator to the armor).

New generations of anti-tank weapons such as tandem head rocket propelled grenades can defeat reactive armor and can penetrate even deeper than conventional shaped charges described above. Accordingly, there is a need in the field of protective armor for improved armor.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION DESCRIPTION

The present invention includes materials, features and techniques relating to ballistic armor. According to some embodiments, there may be provided ballistic armor unit or module comprising an outer armor plate made of one or more rigid materials selected from the group: (1) metal, (2) ceramic, (3) quartz, and (4) carbon. An active inner layer of the ballistic armor may be adjacent to an inner surface of the outer armor plate and may be at least partially comprised of a non-rigid material adapted to accelerate in a direction at least partially tangential to a velocity vector of one or more penetrating elements. The active inner layer material may include one or more materials from the group of material: (1) liquid, (2) gas, (3) water, (4) alcohol, (5) a salt, (6) a soft metal, (7) a metal in liquid state, (8) silicon based particles, (9) liquefied gases, and/or (10) a solution, mixture, emulsion or suspension composed of any two or more listed materials. According to further embodiments, the material may include some quantity of hydrogen peroxide or other highly reactive compound.

The ballistic armor may include a chamber for encapsulating the active inner layer. The chamber may be formed by an inner surface of the outer plate and the inner surface of a back and side plates. According to some embodiments, the chamber may be formed by the inner surfaces of six plates in total. However, it should be clear that different shapes of the armor unit may result in a different number of plates forming the chamber.

The active inner layer material may be encapsulated within the chamber in a non-compressed state. Alternatively, the active inner layer material may be encapsulated in a positively or negatively compressed state. The chamber may include one or more agitator structures to produce turbulence in the active inner layer material upon acceleration of the active inner layer material. The chamber may also include one or more collapsible structures to promote acceleration of the active inner layer material upon a triggering of the acceleration. The collapsible structures may be affixed to an inner surface of the chamber or may be dispersed throughout the material. The chamber may also include or be functionally associated with one or more actuators adapted to apply force to the active inner layer material. The one or more actuators may be affixed to a surface of the chamber or may be dispersed throughout the material. The chamber may also include a release valve or structure adapted to open and/or rupture such that active inner layer material is allowed to exit the chamber. The release structure may be pressure based and may open/rupture upon application of a threshold pressure level. The release structure may optionally be opened/ruptured by an explosive charge. According to further embodiments, the chamber may include one or more deflection structures, which structure may be solid, hollow, filled with a variety of materials including explosive material, and or may be some combination of all three.

According to further embodiments, the ballistic armor may further include one or more actuators, which one or more actuators may be in contact with the active inner layer and may be adapted to apply a force on said active inner layer material. The actuator may be mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or chemical in nature. According to some embodiments, such as when the actuator is a spring loaded piston or an electromechanically driven piston, the actuator may apply a static pressure to the active inner layer material and the pressure may force the material to shift and/or move laterally upon penetration of the armor. An electromechanically driven piston may receive increased mechanical force due to an approach towards or a penetration of the armor (a penetration event) by one or more penetrating elements. According to further embodiments, the actuator may be one or more explosive charges which may be triggered by a penetration event. The explosive charge(s) may be affixed to an inner surface of the chamber or may be intermixed/dispersed throughout the active inner layer material.

According to embodiments where the actuator(s) consist of one or more directional explosive charges adapted to explode upon a penetration event, the charge(s) may be affixed to a first end of the chamber and the explosive direction of the charge(s) may be aimed towards a release structure at a second end of the chamber. According to further embodiments, one or more charges may be placed at each of two ends of the chamber. Triggering of the charges upon a penetration event may be synchronized so as to be concurrent and or to be cascading with a defined delay between the explosions.

According to further embodiments, the actuator(s) may be integral or spread throughout the inner active layer material, for example in clusters or pockets within the material. The actuator material may be adapted to react to a penetration event either with an endothermic or with an exothermic reaction, for example, either with an explosion or with an implosion. The actuators may cause a sheering force to be applied to a penetrating element.

According to yet further embodiments, there may be provided an electric charge source adapted to discharge a large current during a penetration event. The electric discharge may cause a deflection and/or degradation of any penetrating elements.

Activation of one or more actuators, such as explosive charges in response to a penetration event, may cause the active inner layer material to move laterally and to laterally deflect matter and energy associated with penetrating elements. According to further embodiments, one or more explosive charges may rupture the release structure, thereby allowing for inner layer mass ejection from the armor unit, which mass ejection may carry with it matter and energy associated with the penetrating elements. The moving material may also apply a sheering force on a penetrating element.

According to further embodiments, the armor unit actuator may respond to a shockwave entering the armor, for example a shockwave from an improvised explosive device or other shockwave generating explosives. The actuator may cause the release structure of the armor unit to rupture and the active material to eject from the armor, thereby carrying energy of the shockwave away from the armor.

Penetration events and/or shockwave events may passively or reactively trigger one or more actuators of the armor unit by chemical or mechanical means, for example by: (1) rupturing and depressurizing the armor unit chamber, (2) rupturing or displacing a mechanical or chemical trigger, and/or (3) injecting energy into the armor such that a chemical reaction is triggered. Alternatively, the actuators may be connected to an electric triggering mechanisms, and the triggering mechanisms may receive electric signals indicative of an event requiring triggering from one or more electrically based sensors, such as: (1) inductive/proximity sensors, (2) contact sensors, (3) metal strain or deformation sensors, (4) broken circuit type sensors, (5) optical sensors, etc. One or more sensors may be integral or otherwise functionally associated with a given armor unit or with an assembly of armor units. Electric power for operating the sensors and/or the triggers may come from the vehicle being protected or from a power storage unit integral or otherwise functionally associated with an armor unit or assembly.

According even further embodiments, there may be provided an armor assembly comprised of multiple interlocking armor units or modules. The assembly may include armor units or modules stacked on top of one another several units deep. A meshed configuration of the units may be arranged to provide a wide variety coverage shapes and areas with any unit depth. Armor units stacked on one another may have the same or differing active inner layer materials and/or actuators. According to further embodiments, actuator triggering, for example explosive charge detonation, may be synchronized between two or more armor units stacked on one another, such that a penetration event on an upper armor unit may trigger the actuator/explosive of an armor unit beneath it, optionally with a defined period from the penetration event.

An armor unit assembly according to embodiments may be configured to address a variety of applications including: (1) protecting military vehicles, (2) protecting structural elements of buildings, (3) shielding bunkers from bunker buster bombs, etc.

According to some applications, the armor unit may include sealable opening for adding or removing active inner layer material. Active material, such as liquids, may be removed for ease of transportation of the armor unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary military vehicle including an armor assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side cross sectional view of an exemplary armor assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A through 3F each show a side cross sectional view of a different exemplary armor unit or module in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A & 4B each illustrate operation of an armor unit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4C illustrates operation of armor unit in accordance with an further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention comprises protective armor and a protective armor system for defeating projectiles, such that the projectiles and/or penetrating elements produced by the projectiles are blocked from penetrating the protective armor. According to embodiments, matter and/or energy associated with penetrating elements generated by a projectile impact on the armor may be at least partially deflected by one or more Active Inner Layers (AIL) of the armor. The AIL may, through active physical displacement (APD) or movement of matter, achieve at least partial Tangential Deflection (TD) or sheering of the matter and/or energy associated with penetrating elements. The AIL may be composed of various materials in various states, and may be adapted to respond to a projectile impact with a rapid acceleration of the AIL material in a direction which is at least partially tangential to the velocity vector of the matter and/or energy associated with the penetrating elements. The rapid acceleration of the AIL material may be caused by: (1) a state change of at least some of the AIL material resulting from contact with the matter and/or energy associated with the penetrating elements, (2) a chemical reaction of at least some of the AIL material resulting from contact with the matter and/or energy associated with the penetrating elements, (3) rapid depressurization of at least some of the AIL material resulting from penetration of an outer armor layer by the matter and/or energy associated with the penetrating elements, (4) pressurization of at least some of the AIL material resulting from penetration of an outer armor layer by the matter and/or energy associated with the penetrating elements, (5) a mechanical element applying a force on at least some of the AIL material, (6) an electromechanical actuator applying a force on at least some of the AIL material, (7) an explosion resulting from at least partial penetration of an outer armor layer by the matter and/or energy associated with the penetrating elements, and (8) an implosion resulting from at least partial penetration of an outer armor layer by the matter and/or energy associated with the penetrating elements.

According to some embodiments, at least some of the AIL material may be in a liquid state. According to further embodiments, at least part of the AIL may be composed of solid particles or crystals, optionally as a suspension or emulsion in a liquid or gel. According to yet further embodiments, at least part of the AIL material may include a polymer or carbon fiber mesh. According to yet further embodiments, the AIL material may be a soft or liquid metal.

According to some embodiments, there may be provided ballistic armor unit or module comprising an outer armor plate made of one or more rigid materials selected from the group: (1) metal, (2) ceramic, (3) quartz, and (4) carbon. An active inner layer of the ballistic armor may be adjacent to an inner surface of the outer armor plate and may be at least partially comprised of a non-rigid material adapted to accelerate in a direction at least partially tangential to a velocity vector of one or more penetrating elements. The active inner layer material may include one or more materials from the group of material: (1) liquid, (2) gas, (3) water, (4) alcohol, (5) a salt, (6) a soft metal, (7) a metal in liquid state, (8) silicon based particles, (9) liquefied gases, and/or (10) a solution, mixture, emulsion or suspension composed of any two or more listed materials. According to further embodiments, the material may include some quantity of hydrogen peroxide or other highly reactive compound.

The ballistic armor may include a chamber for encapsulating the active inner layer. The chamber may be formed by an inner surface of the outer plate and the inner surface of a back and side plates. According to some embodiments, the chamber may be formed by the inner surfaces of six plates in total. However, it should be clear that different shapes of the armor unit may result in a different number of plates forming the chamber.

The active inner layer material may be encapsulated within the chamber in a non-compressed state. Alternatively, the active inner layer material may be encapsulated in a positively or negatively compressed state. The chamber may include one or more agitator structures to produce turbulence in the active inner layer material upon acceleration of the active inner layer material. The chamber may also include one or more collapsible structures to promote acceleration of the active inner layer material upon a triggering of the acceleration. The collapsible structures may be affixed to an inner surface of the chamber or may be dispersed throughout the material. The chamber may also include or be functionally associated with one or more actuators adapted to apply force to the active inner layer material. The one or more actuators may be affixed to a surface of the chamber or may be dispersed throughout the material. The chamber may also include a release valve or structure adapted to open and/or rupture such that active inner layer material is allowed to exit the chamber. The release structure may be pressure based and may open/rupture upon application of a threshold pressure level. The release structure may optionally be opened/ruptured by an explosive charge. According to further embodiments, the chamber may include one or more deflection structures, which structure may be solid, hollow, filled with a variety of materials including explosive material, and or may be some combination of all three.

According to further embodiments, the ballistic armor may further include one or more actuators, which one or more actuators may be in contact with the active inner layer and may be adapted to apply a force on said active inner layer material. The actuator may be mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or chemical in nature. According to some embodiments, such as when the actuator is a spring loaded piston or an electromechanically driven piston, the actuator may apply a static pressure to the active inner layer material and the pressure may force the material to shift and/or move laterally upon penetration of the armor. An electromechanically driven piston may receive increased mechanical force due to an approach towards or a penetration of the armor (a penetration event) by one or more penetrating elements. According to further embodiments, the actuator may be one or more explosive charges which may be triggered by a penetration event. The explosive charge(s) may be affixed to an inner surface of the chamber or may be intermixed/dispersed throughout the active inner layer material.

According to embodiments where the actuator(s) consist of one or more directional explosive charges adapted to explode upon a penetration event, the charge(s) may be affixed to a first end of the chamber and the explosive direction of the charge(s) may be aimed towards a release structure at a second end of the chamber. According to further embodiments, one or more charges may be placed at each of two ends of the chamber. Triggering of the charges upon a penetration event may be synchronized so as to be concurrent and or to be cascading with a defined delay between the explosions.

According to further embodiments, the actuator(s) may be integral or spread throughout the inner active layer material, for example in clusters or pockets within the material. The actuator material may be adapted to react to a penetration event either with an endothermic or with an exothermic reaction, for example, either with an explosion or with an implosion. The actuators may cause a sheering force to be applied to a penetrating element.

According to yet further embodiments, there may be provided an electric charge source adapted to discharge a large current during a penetration event. The electric discharge may cause a deflection and/or degradation of any penetrating elements.

Activation of one or more actuators, such as explosive charges in response to a penetration event, may cause the active inner layer material to move laterally and to laterally deflect matter and energy associated with penetrating elements. According to further embodiments, one or more explosive charges may rupture the release structure, thereby allowing for inner layer mass ejection from the armor unit, which mass ejection may carry with it matter and energy associated with the penetrating elements. The moving material may also apply a sheering force on a penetrating element.

According to further embodiments, the armor unit actuator may respond to a shockwave entering the armor, for example a shockwave from an improvised explosive device or other shockwave generating explosives. The actuator may cause the release structure of the armor unit to rupture and the active material to eject from the armor, thereby carrying energy of the shockwave away from the armor.

Penetration events and/or shockwave events may passively or reactively trigger one or more actuators of the armor unit by chemical or mechanical means, for example by: (1) rupturing and depressurizing the armor unit chamber, (2) rupturing or displacing a mechanical or chemical trigger, and/or (3) injecting energy into the armor such that a chemical reaction is triggered. Alternatively, the actuators may be connected to an electric triggering mechanisms, and the triggering mechanisms may receive electric signals indicative of an event requiring triggering from one or more electrically based sensors, such as: (1) inductive/proximity sensors, (2) contact sensors, (3) metal strain or deformation sensors, (4) broken circuit type sensors, (5) optical sensors, etc. One or more sensors may be integral or otherwise functionally associated with a given armor unit or with an assembly of armor units. Electric power for operating the sensors and/or the triggers may come from the vehicle being protected or from a power storage unit integral or otherwise functionally associated with an armor unit or assembly.

According even further embodiments, there may be provided an armor assembly comprised of multiple interlocking armor units or modules. The assembly may include armor units or modules stacked on one another several units deep. A meshed configuration of the units may be arranged to provide a wide variety of coverage shapes and areas with any unit depth. Armor units stacked on one another may have the same or differing active inner layer materials and/or actuators. According to further embodiments, actuator triggering, for example explosive charge detonation, may be synchronized between two or more armor units stacked on one another, such that a penetration event on an upper armor unit may trigger the actuator/explosive of an armor unit beneath it, optionally with a defined period from the penetration event.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary military vehicle including an armor assembly in accordance with embodiments of present invention. FIG. 2 shows a side cross sectional view of an exemplary armor assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A through 3F, there are shown side cross sectional views of different exemplary armor units or modules in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a chamber of the armor filled with a liquid such as water (60A). A directional charge 40 is adapted to explode and emit shockwaves and matter across the active material towards the release structure, which in this case is a perforation (10). Agitators 20 promote turbulence in the active inner layer material, water. FIG. 3B is analogous to FIG. 3A, with a different active inner layer material. FIG. 3C shows the active inner layer material being composed of a mixture with solid particles. FIG. 3D is a simple embodiment without agitators. FIG. 3E includes a collapsible structure affixed to a surface of the chamber. FIG. 3F shows an armor unit with deflection structure which may include explosive materials therein.

Turning now to FIGS. 4A & 4B, each illustrates operation of an armor unit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of present invention. As a penetrating element passes through the armor plate at the top of the armor unit, the explosive charge is triggered, and the resulting shockwaves and mass propelled laterally deflects the penetrating element. The increase in internal pressure also causes the release structure to rupture and mass to be ejected therefrom. FIG. 4C illustrates similar operation of an armor unit in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, where the explosive charge pushes a piston across the chamber.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 

1. Ballistic armor comprising: an outer armor plate comprised of one or more rigid materials; and an active inner layer adjacent to an inner surface of the outer armor plate and at least partially comprised of a non-rigid material adapted to accelerate in a direction at least partially tangential to a velocity vector of one or more penetrating elements, wherein said active inner layer material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: (1) liquids, (2) gas, (3) water, (4) alcohol, (5) salt, (6) soft metal, (7) metal in liquid state, (8) silicon based particles, (9) liquefied gases, and/or (10) a solution or mixture of any two or more listed materials.
 2. The ballistic armor according to claim 1, further comprising an active inner layer chamber to encapsulate the active inner layer.
 3. The ballistic armor according to claim 2, in which the active inner layer is maintained at either a pressurized or depressurized state.
 4. The ballistic armor according to claim 2, in which the chamber includes agitator structures to produce turbulence in the said active inner layer material upon acceleration of the active inner layer material.
 5. The ballistic armor according to claim 2, in which the chamber includes collapsible structures to promote acceleration of the active inner layer material upon penetration.
 6. The ballistic armor according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator in contact with the active inner layer and adapted to apply a force on the active inner layer material.
 7. The ballistic armor according to claim 6, in which the actuator is a directional explosive charge adapted to explode upon at least partial penetration of the outer armor plate.
 8. The ballistic armor according to claim 6, in which the actuator is integral with said inner active layer material such that the actuator material is adapted to react either endothermically or exothermically.
 9. The ballistic armor according to claim 1, further comprising a second outer armor plate and a second inner active layer, both of which are situated behind said active inner layer.
 10. The ballistic armor according to claim 9, further comprising a third outer armor plate and a third inner active layer, both of which are situated behind the second active inner layer.
 11. The ballistic armor according to claim 1, further comprising an active inner chamber to encapsulate the active inner layer.
 12. The ballistic armor according to claim 11, in which the active inner layer is maintained at either a pressurized or depressurized state.
 13. The ballistic armor according to claim 11, in which the chamber includes agitator structures to produce turbulence in the active inner layer material upon acceleration of the active inner layer material.
 14. The ballistic armor according to claim 11, in which the chamber includes collapsible structures to promote acceleration of the active inner layer material upon penetration. 